http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...t/news-story/d7506ecc847e9cca0f10f1827e0c68cc
Perth’s impressive Optus Stadium set to entice sports fans west
As the NSW government prepares to rip down Sydney’s two biggest sporting arenas, Perth will launch its boldest attempt to lure major events away from the east coast with a dazzling $1.6 billion stadium that holds 60,000 people and is touted as among the world’s best.
Premier Mark McGowan will tomorrow formally open the aluminium-clad Optus Stadium, which sits on the banks of the Swan River to the east of Perth’s CBD as a sparkling symbol of Western Australia’s geological wealth.
More than 100,000 people will enter the doughnut-shaped venue for the first time as part of a free open day — in recognition that each West Australian household has contributed about $1500 to the project at a time of soaring state government debt.
The first major sporting event will be held next weekend: a one-day cricket international between Australia and England in front of a sellout crowd.
The Weekend Australian had a guided tour of the impressive venue this week with WA Sports Minister Mick Murray, who maintains the huge spending — initiated by the previous Barnett government — is warranted given the potential economic benefits for the state. “It’s top of the wozza — it’s really something special,” he said. “I’ve been to the MCG, I’ve been to Etihad Stadium (in Melbourne) and we are up there. We are really now matching all of Australia.”
Tourism Council of WA chief executive Evan Hall said he believed Perth could also capitalise on the NSW government’s controversial decision to demolish and rebuild ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium in coming years.
“Competition will hot up between the venues anyway,” he said. “If at the same time there are fewer options in Sydney, then there are opportunities for other venues in Australia — and you look at Perth’s capacity of 60,000 and the fact that it’s brand new.”
Hall said research showed AFL matches involving Perth’s two clubs would attract as many as 40,000 additional interstate visitors a year, given the previous home ground at Subiaco was dilapidated and could hold only 40,000 spectators.
In a tangible sign of the tourism potential, about 7000 seats for two Ed Sheeran concerts in March at the new venue have already been snapped up by fans from overseas and interstate.
Optus Stadium will also host game two of the 2019 State of Origin series between NSW and Queensland, attracting thousands of east coast fans who are likely to stay in Perth, on average, for four nights each.
The stadium, however, has not been without controversy.
The Liberal opposition claimed the McGowan government’s decision to sell the naming rights to Singapore-owned telco Optus for $10 million a year represented a huge missed opportunity to promote Perth.
And there has been debate for months over the decision to allow only mid-strength beer to be sold at the venue.
This week the government found itself in a pickle over an unpopular plan to cap the crowd at a potential Big Bash cricket semi-final next month to 40,000 because a key footbridge connecting the stadium to the CBD has not been completed.
But Hall and other tourism officials believe all these issues will be forgotten in time as more major events come to Perth, a city in need of economic confidence.
“Events are one of the missing ingredients we’ve had,” Hall said.
“Towns like Melbourne have used events very well to attract attention. Melbourne has a little, brown smudge of a river, no harbour bridge, no great landmarks and yet it’s been the standout success of tourism for the past 20 or 30 years.
“In Perth we haven’t had the venue to do that. This will be the most significant change to tourism to reinvigorate Perth in the east coast market.”
